Waste Retrieval Device

ABSTRACT

The invention takes the form of a waste retrieval device in the form of an elongate scoop having front and back openings, with a handle attached to the scoop and a bag attachment device connected to the scoop for removably fastening a bag to the scoop, so that the opening of the bag completely encloses the back opening of the scoop, such that waste can be easily scooped up and transferred to the bag, which can be removed from the scoop and disposed of.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional application 61/818524, filed May 2, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a waste retrieval device, and more specifically to a scoop with openings at each end, and with a disposable bag attachment mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pooper scoopers are well known in the art. However, they are hard to clean and the waste still needs to be moved from the scooper to something else.

What is needed is a device which allows for the picking up of waste, and easily transferring the waste to a disposable bag.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention takes the form of a waste retrieval device in the form of an elongate scoop having front and back openings, with a handle attached to the scoop and a bag attachment device connected to the scoop for removably fastening a bag to the scoop, so that the opening of the bag completely encloses the back opening of the scoop, such that waste can be easily scooped up and transferred to the bag, which can be removed from the scoop and disposed of.

The waste retrieval device has the scoop is molded of a polymer composite material.

The bag attachment device is comprised of two raised ridges molded in the scoop, over which a disposable bag is arranged, and an elastic ring which is arranged between the two raised ridges to securely attach the bag to the waste retrieval device.

The front portion of the scoop has a flat bottom portion with a plurality of elongate teeth formed in the scoop.

The scoop is provided with a thumb stabilizer at the base of the handle.

The waste retrieval device also includes a handle extension which may be attached to the handle, and can be provided with a threaded end to screw into the top of the handle.

The waste retrieval device can include a hanger hole in the scoop.

The scoop may also be molded with a course screen to permit litter or sand to sift out of the scoop prior to transferring the waste to the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the waste retrieval device with an optional handle extension.

FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the waste retrieval device with the handle extension connected to the handle and with a removable bag attached to the scoop.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the waste retrieval device, in which the scooper portion is molded with a course screen to allow cat litter to sift out of the scoop before dropping the waste into an attached bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, the present invention is explained in more detail by means of the attached drawings of examples of realisation. In the drawings show:

While this invention may be embodied in many forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.

For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the waste retrieval device is shown generally at 10. The device is a scoop 12, molded from a very strong polymer composite material. The scoop 12 has a front opening 14 and a back opening 16. The front opening has a flat bottom portion with teeth 18. The scoop has a handle 20, which can be made out of high-density NPVC foam.

A disposable bag can be removably attached to the scoop, completely enclosing the back opening, as shown at 22. The scoop has two raised ridge or flange portions 24 and 26. The disposable bag is placed around the two ridges 24 and 26 (as shown at 22) and an elastic ring 28 is arranged between the two ridges 24 and 26, and is sized to securely fasten the bag to the scoop. The ring 28 is made of poly vinyl chloride “PVC” for strength and spring shape memory.

A handle extension 30 can be screwed into the end of handle 20 to enable use without bending over. The handle extension is made of black aluminum tubing with a die-cast thread and composite plastic hand grip. The base of the handgrip or handle 20 is provided with a thumbgrip stabilizer 32. A hanger hole is provided at 34 for ease of storage (and the handle extension may also include a hanger hole for storage as well).

In operation, a bag is simply snapped into place with the ring. The waste is picked up with the scoop, either using the handle 20 or handle extension 30, and the user tips the scoop 12 upright to drop the waste into the bag. The bag may be easily detached from the scoop 12 and disposed of in the normal manner (usually into a trash container).

Bags can be specially made for the waste disposal device or most household bags, newspaper bags, common dog poop bags and/or bio-degradable bags can also be used if desired.

Referring to FIG. 3, the scoop 12 can be molded with a course screen 38 to sift cat litter before dropping remainder into affixed bag for disposal.

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.

Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.

This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A waste retrieval device comprising: an elongate scoop having front and back openings; a handle attached to the scoop; a bag attachment device connected to the scoop for removably fastening a bag to the scoop, so that the opening of the bag completely encloses the back opening of the scoop, whereby waste can be easily scooped up and transferred to the bag, which can be removed from the scoop and disposed of.
 2. The waste retrieval device of claim 1 wherein the scoop is molded of a polymer composite material.
 3. The waste retrieval device of claim 1 wherein the bag attachment device is comprised of two raised ridges molded in the scoop, over which a disposable bag is arranged, and an elastic ring which is arranged between the two raised ridges to securely attach the bag to the waste retrieval device.
 4. The waste retrieval device of claim 1 wherein the front portion of the scoop has a flat bottom portion with a plurality of elongate teeth formed in the scoop.
 5. The waste retrieval device of claim 1 wherein the scoop is provided with a thumb stabilizer at the base of the handle.
 6. The waste retrieval device of claim 1 further including a handle extension which may be attached to the handle.
 7. The waste retrieval device of claim 1 further including a hanger hole in the scoop.
 8. The waste retrieval device of claim 1 wherein the scoop is molded with a course screen to permit litter or sand to sift out of the scoop prior to transferring the waste to the bag. 